Hose coupling

Abstract

A coupling assembly for hoses, fabricated of plastic and comprising one-piece male and multi-piece snap together female coupling sections. The male section includes an externally threaded fitting and an integral hub adapted to fit over the end of a hose section, the hub having internal circumferential ribs or barbs. A ferrule inserted into the hose expands the hose wall into engagement with the barbs for securing the section to the hose. The female section includes an annular collar likewise fitted over and secured to the end of a hose section. An annular flange is formed on the collar, and an internally threaded connector is provided, including an inwardly turned annular lip adapted to snap over and engage behind the flange for rotatably mounting the connector on the collar. The barbs are specially configured to bite into the hose material and resist separation of the coupling section from the hose in response to axial forces tending to pull them apart.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a coupling member for hoses, a flexible coupling section having a central bore of a diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of said hose and adapted to fit over the end segment of said hose, said coupling section including a threaded portion for coupling said member to a mating coupling section, said bore being defined by an interior cylindrical wall within said coupling member, a series of annular barbs formed in said cylindrical wall and defining spaced apexes separated by recessed areas, said annular barbs having a reverse rake angle, each said barb comprising a base sloping rearwardly and outwardly to a juncture with a radial wall extending inwardly and forwardly therefrom, said juncture defining a said apex, said apexes being longitudinally aligned along lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of said central bore, and a tubular ferrule within the interior of said end segment urging the wall of said hose section outwardly into said barbs, said tubular ferrule including a central passageway having a cross-sectional area substantially equivalent to the interior passage of said hose, and an annular rib projecting toward a said recessed area between apexes of said barbs. 
     
     
       2. A coupling member as defined in claim 1, wherein said radial wall is disposed at an angle of about 15 degrees from normal to the longitudinal axis of said bore. 
     
     
       3. A coupling member as defined in claim 2, wherein said base and said radial wall define an angle of about 75 degrees therebetween. 
     
     
       4. A coupling member as defined in claim 1, wherein said ferrule comprises a tubular member of permanently deformable material inserted in said end segment and expanded to urge said wall into engagement with said barbs. 
     
     
       5. A coupling member as defined in claim 4, including an O-ring surrounding said tubular member outwardly beyond the end of said hose section and expanded with said tubular member into sealing engagement with said interior wall of said coupling member. 
     
     
       6. A coupling member as defined in claim 4, wherein said annular rib comprises a corrugation formed in the wall of said tubular member as it is expanded. 
     
     
       7. A coupling member as defined in claim 1, wherein said ferrule comprises a non-expanding tubular member adapted to be forced axially into said end segment to expand said wall into engagement with said barbs. 
     
     
       8. A coupling member as defined in claim 7, wherein said ferrule includes spaced annular barbs on its outer surface of a configuration similar to said barbs in said interior cylindrical wall and directed opposite thereto, an apex of said barbs on said ferrule comprising said annular rib. 
     
     
       9. A coupling member as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling section comprises a hub within which said annular barbs are formed, and an integral axially projecting fitting having said threaded portion formed on its outer surface. 
     
     
       10. A coupling member as defined in claim 1, wherein said coupling section comprises a collar within which said annular barbs are formed, an annular flange formed on the forward end of said collar defining a channel therebehind, and including a separate tubular connector having a central bore therethrough, said threaded portion being formed within said bore at one end of said connector, said connector having an inwardly directed annular lip at its other end adapted to snap-fit over and engage behind said annular flange within said channel, whereby said tubular connector is restrained axially on said collar and adapted to freely rotate relative thereto. 
     
     
       11. A coupling member as defined in claim 10, including a second coupling section comprising said mating coupling section, said second section including a hub with a central bore and having annular barbs formed within said bore, and an integral, axially projecting fitting with a threaded portion on its outer surface adapted to mate with said threaded portion of said tubular connector for joining said first named and said second coupling sections.